The Diplomat season 5 has the perfect opportunity to complete Kate's arc

If there's one thing the release of The Diplomat season 4 has proven, it's that the political thriller has cemented itself as one of the best original Netflix shows of the moment—and possibly of all time. The series has only continued to build upon the incredible foundation creator Debora Cahn and star Keri Russell implented from the very beginning with an amazing ensemble and gripping stories.

Following the release of season 4, the wait for the streaming service to make an announcement about season 5 began, and this time around, fans are antsier than ever. We simply can't wait to know what happens next in the complicated, messy, but still heroic journey of Kate Wyler, especially after making a decision that could either start a movement or end her career on the spot.

Since Netflix has been ending a number of its fan-favorite original series with final seasons left and right lately, the big question hovering around The Diplomat season 5 is whether the streamer and the show's creative team will opt for this to be the show's last hurrah. When thinking through that lens, it's actually clear to see the runway to the end game and the natural conclusion of Kate's arc.

Should The Diplomat end with season 5 on Netflix?

Naturally, we have to ask ourselves if we want The Diplomat to end with season 5, and the answer to that question is likely a loud "no" from all fans. But when we flip the question to ask whether the series should end with season 5, the answer gets a bit cloudier. To put it plainly, the show could end after one more season, and all things considered, it probably should, too.

The story the series has been telling since the first season has been interconnected and rapidly building season after season. Kate kicked off the series in the midst of the carrier attack, which led to revelations about Vice President Penn, which brought us to the president's death and Grace rising to his role, which ended up with Hal becoming VP and stealing the Poseidon with Grace.

In the end of The Diplomat season 4, after the Penn-Wyler administration continued to devolve into illegal and dangerous territory in the wake of Grace's assassination attempt, we're left with a million questions. Kate, Billie, and Ganon resign from the administration during the G7 conference, and Hal ultimately joins them, though we don't know for sure whether he's really joining them.

Every step of the way, Kate's been pushed and pulled, called to action, to be the hero (or at least try to be) in the impossible positions she's constantly thrust into. She's the voice of reason no one wants to listen to, but she tries and tries and tries. She doesn't always get it right, but she's fighting the good fight. How much longer can she do that for, particularly with this administration?

You could argue that there could be two more good seasons left of The Diplomat, and I'm inclined to agree. Maybe even three more seasons, if we're pushing it. You'd also think that with only six to eight episodes a season, a show should be able to last a lifetime. But there's only so much story to tell before the series begins to retread old territory and, as most shows do, get stale.

But the fifth season has seemingly been set up to perfectly wrap up the winding road Kate's been walking throughout the series with her public resignation in the season 4 finale. She's reached a turning point, and unless the writers can craft a series of other turning points worthy of sustaining the series for seasons to come, season 5 could without question deliver a banger final run.

The Diplomat deserves to end on a high note, and whether that's season 5 or season 6, whenever the show ends should coincide with the organic conclusion of Kate's story arc. Does that happen to be Kate completing her hero journey and exposing Grace? Does that mean the cycle of cleaning up political messes is unending? Does it end with Kate holding office? Let's not wait too long to find out.

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